MediaFLO

MediaFLO Media Forward Link Only, is a technology proposed by QualComm and uses a netwotk that uses a limit number of high-power transmission towers to deliver high-quality streaming multimedia. This technology was first owned by QulaComm and now further enhanced by QualComm jointly with the FLO Forum (a multy-company initiative) that works for the efficient transmission of multiple multimedia streams to mobile devices. FLO technology was designed specifically for the economical and efficient distribution of multimedia content to millions of wireless users. (MediaFLO)

MediaFLO uses OFDM transmission (like DVB-H) with approximately 4K carriers with QPSK or 16-QAM modulation of the carriers. It also uses division multiplexing, that is similar to what DVB-H refers to as a time slicing (check last entree), to transmit specific
content at specific time intervals.

MediaFLO can be technically characterized as follows (Yeun, 2007):
- Turbo code algorithms: that allow more effective aggressive error correction than is
possible using the traditional Viterbi coding present in other systems.
- Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC): If the packet is received perfectly, then the receiver does not have to calculate the Reed Solomon outer code, allowing additional receiver power savings.
- Time interleaving data: contribute to reduce the impact of impulse noise and changing multi-path, but can affect negatively increasing channel acquisition time, making surfing difficult (change channels).

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has ratified four other FLO-standard TIA-1099, 1102, 1103 and 1004 - that meet the interface specification for FLO satellite, with the minimum performance standards for devices with performance standards less transmitter, and the application protocol for testing devices and transmitters, respectively (Qualcomm, 2007).


MediaFLO is an ITU-R recommended mobile broadcast technology. Recently (MediaFLO Forum, 2009) MediaFLO Technologies received the approval of ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards), they publish ETSI TS 1 02 589, “Forward Link Only Air Interface; Specification for Terrestrial Mobile; Multimedia Multicast.”
According to the literature of the lecture, is important for a technology, critical in wireless environment, to ensure a global standard. This fact is important to the industry stakeholders, because operators have the freedom to use the technology in their business model, regulators gain the ability to use and provide a technology which use neutral spectrum policy using an open standard, and also benefits the semiconductors and electronic component manufacturers that have access to a new market based on FLO mobile broadcast solutions.
MediaFLO is a technology that according the corporative web site is actually working in USA (2007) and trials have been completed in Japan, UK, Taiwan, Malaysia, etc.

In U.S. the two largest wireless carriers, AT&T and Verizon Wireless, are adopting MediaFlo. Samsung and LG are two phone makers whose equipment is compatible with the MediaFLO network. I think is interesting to mention that QualComm announced that is going to expand their services to 39 new markets in USA, the reason is the liberation of the spectrum that is generating the transition to digital TV. USA is the country which MediaFLO have more presence according the following article, one reason is because in Europe the standard choosen by the European Comission (EC) is DVB-H, so the MediaFLO standard has a uphill battle trying to provide mobile TV in Europe.


But does is mean that the EC’s decision will cut off MediaFlo from Europe? I do not hink so, as I read in an article on the online newspaper “moconews”, MediaFLO will apply a different strategy in Europe where MediaFLO USA in the U.S. purchased spectrum, aggregated content (programming), and built a mobile broadcast network., in Europe will only supply the technology to the operators.

Technically MediaFLO is better, because started later and was able to cope and improve some aspects that other technologies like DVB-H lack, has significant cost and frequency advantages. (Medford, 2008)

I decide to include the following video, that provides a interview to Omar Javaid, the Senior Director of Busines Development for Qualcomm MediaFLO Technologies, discusses the MediaFLO technology, the future of mobile TV and consumer experience in the U.S. market.

References:

Medford, C. (2008, 02 06). RED Herring. Retrieved 07 25, 2009, from Qualcomm to Spin Off MediaFLO?: http://www.redherring.com/Home/23690

Yeun, C. Y. (2007). IEEE Xplore. Retrieved 5 19, 2009, from Mobile TV Technologies: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F4459487%2F4475588%2F04475607.pdf%3Farnumber%3D4475607&authDecision=-203